Social Justice Institute

Thanks to a grant from the National Writing Project, the Tar River Writing Project will be developing an innovative, hybrid model of the traditional Invitation Summer Institute. This invitational institute will begin in Summer 2017 with a 4-day retreat at the Pocosin Arts Lodge in Columbia, NC, in early June, and then extend over the school year as teacher-cohorts work together to examine writing and literacy practices through a social justice lens. 

As a rural site, the Tar River Writing Project at East Carolina University serves a broad area stretching from Interstate 95 to the coast. Such a large area makes it difficult for teachers to drive to ECU’s campus every day for 4 weeks during the summer. This grant provides Tar River WP an opportunity to explore a hybrid model. For this year’s project, teachers can earn 10 CEUs for their participation by attending the four-day summer kick-off retreat in Columbia, NC, and then participating in 12 cohort meetings with TRWP leadership team facilitators. Cohort meetings happen in participants’ hometown/counties, and serve as a space to meet with fellow teachers, to explore literacy education in a hyper-local context, and to plan a Teaching Inquiry Project that lets each teacher explore his/her own interests around reading, writing, and social justice. 

If you are interested in participating in this project or just in learning more about the Tar River Writing Project, fill out the form on our contact page and someone will be in touch.